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Many people get a deep outrage from being in a minority and being victimized.

Bikers are in a minority and are victimized.

How about the people that committed the ROW violation?

What have we done to help them and in turn help ourselves?

Responsibility for a death is lifelong.

This is evidenced by the overwhelming amount of people that are against the death penalty.

Many motorcyclists have missed the opportunity to embrace these people into fighting for our cause and shunned them as outsiders. Yet, they claim they are a brotherhood aimed towards education. With all the effectiveness of a preacher preachin’ to the choir.
What in the hell are you thinkin’?

Oh, somebody else can do that. 
No, nope ain’t gonna work. 
Hell, no.  HELL, NO.

Oh, but we got the penalties enhanced…. … 
A bikers life went up from twenty dollars to six hundred dollars.  You can’t stick `em in the dirt for that price, my bro. What kind of benefit is that to the biker community?

What the hell good is that doing within society? 

Unless you go back to the golden rule of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth and a life for a life you have missed it completely.

Enhanced penalties are ineffective unless equal to or greater than the damage caused.

Without an even playing field of educating the driving public about the inherent skills and differences of two wheel operation versus four wheel operation, you ain’t got nothing.

How is your motorcycle fund being spent in your state?

Many organizations within the motorcycling community claim grassroots activism for motorcyclist rights.  Others claim safety.  Yet others claim advocacy on a level that is neither relevant nor applicable to the rider. 

Which organizations shall we look at? 

Why should we look at them?

What’s up?

Over the next few days I hope to take a look at many of them.

What suggestions do you have?

Hey Biker Boy,

Did you get to see “The World’s Fastest Indian”? 
You know, that cycle movie with Anthony Hopkins. 
Now that was one broke  dude with a dream.

How’s that air-cooled 45 degree v-twin runnin’ lately?

Great transport when you’re in your leather mode, huh?
Great sense of freedom when you’re riding?

Which model motor did you get? 
Something from recent years? 
Let me help you with the names 
Evolution.
Revolution. 
Devolution. 
Maybe you have a couple of bikes and one is the more historical one from the past when you were a little hellion. 
Is it a pothead or a panhead or a flathead or fathead? 
Knucklehead or chucklehead? 
Doesn’t matter. 
I want to tell you about a great new performance product made just for your bike. 
I know, I know.  I can’t afford anything more for the bike…..the old lady would kill me. 

This is a must have signature product for your bike. Unlike other products requiring expensive dyno runs, this one runs perfectly with your own PC.(political correctness) Yes sir, this fits all the pre-existing features of your bike and your life.  Name that Tune technology is another feature and benefit of this fine accessory to your bike and lifestyle. You can now operate your bike anywhere, anytime with these new pipes by Apathy Technologies called Silent Majority. For a limited time, a special offer.  Now for a limited time you will receive a bonus gift with your purchase of the Apathy Technologies Silent Majority pipes.

The No 1 stadium cushion with built in hand warmers.  After those long hard charity rides that demonstrate your true activism, you could use time to kick back and reminisce about the biker you wannabe. Now as a special gift to you and all that you stand for, we have developed this cushion with you in mind. No 1. 
Perfect for use at your next MRO meeting. Now, you can sit on your hands in style. Made for  you.
Don’t get caught up in the spirit of things and volunteer needlessly. When you’re called upon, just show them how firmly you are entrenched with No 1.

Now, back to the beginning.  Oh yeah, he was that dude in “Silence of the Lambs” with Jody Foster. You know, that psycho movie with Anthony Hopkins. Now that was one broke dude with a dream.

The EPA is now making a government-funded movie. 
“The hell,” you say. 
Be still my bleating heart. 
It is a short one aimed at the Other Vehicle drivers.  They took the idea from Great Britain. 
The somewhat famous “THINK” campaign will now be geared to the American mentality. 
Starring Homer Simpson it will portray a motorist that does not see a motorcyclist. 
The title of this epic short PSA will be simply, “DOH”.

Apathy is used as an excuse for poor turnout at activist organization meetings.

Let’s look at it from another perspective. Over the years and now decades, many Americans have looked to the government for help acting as an equalizer.  The unions looked to the government as an arbitrator. The farmer looked to the government to prop up profits through subsidies.  The airlines have looked to the government for help. The trucking industry for regulation. The pharmaceutical industry for easing of regulation for quicker profits.  The oil companies have looked to the government for their interests.  The tobacco companies for their addictive processes. The liquor industry for their own addictions and how they are portrayed.  The churches for their protections.  Oh yes and lest we forget, the education industry, for lowered standards to process their monies.

So, why have I left out the motorcycle industry?  I haven’t.  I just wanted to point out how many areas our dear government has been put in the position of nanny in the name of equality.

Since this is America that I am addressing, let’s look at the American motorcycle industry.

American companies are driven by profit. Technology is important only when the consumer demands it.

How did Harley-Davidson deal with that?
How did H-D change things?
Why has the government been complicit in this change?

Harley Davidson realized that the average American likes tradition and the sense of belonging.  They also realized that a tough guy image could be used to their advantage.

The government does not want to babysit people.  They (the government) hate it. They hate it (being the nanny) so much that they punitively tax it heavily.

H-D realized that they could surf this wave really easily. Here are questions , answers and H-D solutions.

Made in America.  Let’s hear it for patriotism.
It’s an American company and that means I am investing in America.

Globalism.
H-D is smart they are buying cheap labor at their high standards.  Keeps the price of my bike down.

Image.
We can sell them the black leathers.  We will develop a division called Motor Clothes.  We will devote the entire division to the image. These people raised their kids with brand consciousness.  Why, we can deck them out in everything Harley. We aren’t the “nicest” people.  You won’t meet us on a Honda or anything else from our WWII adversaries.

I like the look. A sense of unique.
Yep, chrome everything.  Their peers used to say, “If it don’t go fast chrome it.”

Yeah but, I want it to be custom.
How about one of our fancy paint jobs, they’re numbered.

I like the sound.  We tried to get that patented.  Now,  we are silencing you by agreeing with the government to sell quiet pipes only.

I want more people to ride with.
We have Rider’s Edge to help you tame the beast.  Gee, the state test is so scary and I don’t do well on tests.  No problem, we have taken care of that through our lobbyist and marketing arm name the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.  (sounds a bit like the Patriot Act) I’ll go for that. Anything that is safety oriented means it’s got to be good.

My ass is getting kicked by the foreign bikes.
“No problem”, replies H-D, “we’ll re-invent competition with our Harley only racing organization (AHDRA) so that no matter what wins, it will be a Harley.”

I want to look tougher than just the bike and the leathers, I want to really belong to a bad ass group.
(can I buy it?)
Hell yes you can, replies Harley.  (knowing full well that these aren’t bikers, they are owners) ” We’ll just use the once derogatory term for our bikes and give you a patch to proclaim your individuality and your uncompromising toughness.  We will give you the name HOG.  Patches and everything.  You will be connected with a bunch of like minded people that eat, sleep, wear, ride, smoke, drink and own a Harley.”

People are saying bad and scary things about Harleys.
Listen up, we are big business and we can only stay that way with our team of lawyers.  We pay them well and pay off these complainers.  (high speed wobble…Law enforcement crashes…. Front end failures on Buells…bad quality control…bad engineering)  We do not want the image tarnished of your icon.

Am I picking on Harley-Davidson?  No. Hell, no.

Am I picking on Americans?  No and yes.

What I am saying is that many people want things done for them.  What are you, as an individual, doing for them?
The government wants things privatized with their oversight.
Businesses want concessions to do these things.
Schooling of the biker. Privatized with the M$F.
Motorcycle gangs.  Privatized with HOG.
Too much American competition for H-D.  Privatized with the EPA rulings forcing a monopoly by virtually shutting down the small business owner.
Too much outrage.  Privatized with MROs. Diffused with infighting rendering them ineffectual.

How do you like your babysitter so far?

Apathy is a powerful tool being used against you. Harley and the government know that you won’t get off your ass to do a thing.  They are counting on it.

That is how the government and corporate America are using and will continue to use your apathy as an investment tool.

You will pay the price and pay dearly for something you don’t want and don’t need.

I know, I know…..get off the soapbox, sit down and shut up, I just don’t care.

Invest your apathy wisely.